Can I quit an image set before completing it?

You can quit an image set at any time and the program will automatically save the information you've input. Once you've finished an image set, remember to submit the image set so that it can move further in the process of being processed.

If you decide that you cannot complete keying an image set, you can cancel it. Click the Select Image Set tab, highlight the image set you wish to cancel, then click the Cancel Image Set button. This will clear out the data that you have typed in and send the image set back for someone else to work on.

How do I turn off the auto-complete feature?

In order to turn off the autocomplete feature, select file-> options. And uncheck the box that says auto complete.

What is the best way to move from field to field?

There are a handful of ways to move from field to field, and depending on what you are doing, one way may be more useful than another.

The Tab key
The Enter key
The arrow keys
The Tab and Enter keys are most useful while you're typing in the information from the image, and the arrow keys tend to be more useful if you want to navigate around the data fields in the table at the bottom of the application window.

Can I make the image darker/lighter?

There are a couple of ways for you to make adjustments to the contrast of the image to make it easier to read.

Click the High Contrast button at the top of the image
Clicking the Image Options button
Click on Image > Image Options in the menu bar.

Can I make the image smaller/larger?

There is more than one way to make the image smaller or larger.

Click the magnifying glass buttons
Choose a zoom percentage in the drop-down list
Click on the desired option in the Image menu
Ctrl+PageUp or Ctrl+PageDown
With the image selected, hold Ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel

Image Viewer Tools

The image viewer has a number of tools to help you read the information on the image more easily. The most frequently-used tools can be found at the top of the image in a toolbar.

From left to right, the buttons are:

Zoom in
Zoom out
Set zoom
Rotate clockwise
Rotate counter-clockwise
High contrast
Open Image Options box
These options can also be found in the Image menu in the menu bar.

How do I enter record data?

Entering record data simply involves typing the information you see written on the image into the corresponding data cell in the bottom of the application window. As you type, you can move to the next field by pressing either Tab or Enter, whichever is more comfortable for you.

What’s the list of words that appeared while I was typing?

The list of words that shows up while you're typing is the drop-down list. It’s a list of entries that have appeared frequently in other sets of records that have already been indexed by Ancestry.com.

The drop-down list is meant to give you suggestions for words you may not be able to read and standardize entries for fields with a limited number of possibilities, like Gender or Age.

If the information from the record is not found in the drop down list you will need to click on F7(PC) or Command+7(Mac) to accept your entry.

How do I select an option from the drop-down list?

You can select an option in the drop-down list a couple of different ways.

You can type the number of the option you would like to choose
You can use the arrow keys to highlight the option you want and press Enter
You can continue typing to finish the entry
You can use your mouse to click on the option you want.

How do I key header data?

Entering header data is just like entering data for an individual record; choose the first cell and begin typing. There are fewer fields in the header, and most of the information remains the same for the images in your image set, meaning you probably won't need to retype it all.

What is the header data?

Header data is the information for the document itself and includes fields that will stay the same for all the individuals on the image.

What should I do if the data entry form doesn't match the image?

If the data entry form doesn't match the image, go back and make sure that you have selected the correct form type in step 2.

How long do I have to complete an image set? Is there a time limit?

There is a time limit for completing an image set, but don’t worry; you have 10 days to complete the image set. Also, you do not have to complete an image set in a single sitting. You can close the program at any time and your work to that point will be saved until the next time you want to work on it.

How do I offer feedback or report issues with the program?

There are a couple of ways to offer feedback or report issues.

Click the “Contact Support” link in the top right corner of the program

In the menu bar, click Help > Contact Support

Send an email directly to worldarchivessupport@ancestry.com or WorldArchivesProject@Ancestry.com

Can I view more than one image at a time?

If you wish to view another image in the current set you are working on there is an option in the image tool bar for this. Using this you can view any of the images in the set in a separate viewing window.

How do I set the form type?

When you first open an image set that has multiple form types the Set Form Type window will automatically pop up. The different form types will be displayed on the left with a description in the middle and a list of possible data fields on the right. To set the form type you can either click on the desired option and then click OK or you can double click on the form type.

What is a form type and why is it important?

A form type is a particular format the information was recorded in. Determining the form type is important because different forms contain different information. For example, a census form has different information from a ship’s passenger list and even the information they both contain could be organized differently.

How do I correct my data entry errors?

You can correct errors just by clicking in the field you want to update and typing the corrected text. When you're finished, you can move onto another field and the corrected text will be saved.

Can I download image sets and complete them offline?

Yes. You need to be online when you download the image sets but you can work on them while you are offline. To submit the completed image sets you will need to be online. Highlight the image sets you would like to submit and then click the "Submit Finished Image Set" button.